for fastest delivery, call one of our sales representativesYour toilet’s clogged again, and this time it’s all your fault. (Who knew flushable kitty litter wasn’t flushable?) To help you avoid any future clogs, floods or breakdowns, we asked plumbers across the country to share their customers’ biggest mistakes—and how they can be avoided. Shutterstock / Iriana Shiyan 1. You reach for the Drano. Forget using chemicals to open or clear drains—they rarely get the job all the way done, says Steve Reckon, fourth generation owner of Southern California’s Reckon Plumbing. Plus, not only are the chemicals very harsh and dangerous for you to handle, they can also ruin drain pipes and the equipment used to clear the stoppage. Hint: To prevent blockages in the first place, keep notorious cloggers like grease and hair out of drains. 2. You treat the toilet like a garbage can. Even if they’re labeled “flushable,” don’t toss feminine hygiene products, personal cleaning wipes, toilet scrubbers, make-up remover pads or cat litter into the toilet, says Reckon.

The fact is, they don’t disintegrate quickly enough and can ultimately block the drain pipe. RELATED: Be the plumber! 5 DIY plumbing tricks to save you time and money 3. You try to tackle the plumbing problems yourself. Don’t try to diagnose and fix a plumbing problem yourself, or hire a handyman to do plumbing work, says Jim Jennette, a plumber for 25 years and Mr. Rooter franchise consultant. Plumbers can find and correct a problem faster than an amateur can, which will save you money in the long run. 4. You have no idea where the main water valve is. Don’t be in the dark when it comes to knowing the location of the main water valve and every emergency shut off valve in your house, says Mark Dawson, president and CEO of Arizona’s bluefrog Plumbing + Drain. And while you’re at it, learn how to turn off these valves. It’s easy but if you’d prefer to have pro show you how, many plumbers will check emergency shut-off valves at no charge. 5. You use drop in toilet fresheners.

Ditch the drop-in tank toilet fresheners. You may love the blue water it makes in your toilet bowl, but these tablets often contain chemicals that wear out working parts inside the tank, Reckon explains. Plus, as these tablets disintegrate, they can get stuck in the flush valve and prevent the toilet from flushing. 6. You forget to replace the hoses. Water hoses don’t give any warning before they burst, so avoid a potential flood by changing out rubber hoses on washing machines and dishwashers every five years, says Dan Runkel, licensed journeyman plumber and head of Washington Energy Service’s plumbing division in Seattle. When you do replace them, use stainless steel on all water lines, if possible. 7. You don’t have a leak protection system. Don’t skimp on water leak protection, cautions Runkel. It only costs a few hundred dollars to get a water leak protection system that offers both an alarm and a main water shut-off should a leak occur in your water heater, dishwasher, sinks and more.

RELATED: 'Don't panic': Here's what to do when you've clogged someone else's toilet 8. Your hot water heater is outdated. Don’t think your tank water heater will last forever—the average lifespan is 8-12 years. Go Big Lexi T ShirtJust like toast tends to fall butter-side down on the floor, your 20-year-old tank will inevitably fail and flood while you are on vacation, warns Runkel.Which Is The Best Robotic Pool Cleaner 9. You overload the garbage disposal.Patio Chair Cushions 19 X 20 Be kind to your garbage disposal: Don’t pour grease into it (the goopy stuff will eventually solidify and clog the drain), and don’t put in fibrous food like celery and artichokes. Also avoid pushing through large amounts of garbage at once, Reckon says.

Instead, feed garbage slowly into the disposal with cold running water. RELATED: How can I keep pipes from freezing? Answers to your home questions 10. You fiddle with the water heater’s pressure valve. Don’t try to drain your water heater or test the temperature and pressure valve yourself. These need to be done professionally, says Dawson. If the valve is not properly removed, the pressure from the tank can disperse scalding hot water that could cause serious burns as well as property damage. Find more plumbing advice from our experts: Reckon Plumbing, Mr. Rooter, bluefrog Plumbing and Washington Energy. Find a Sales Rep Leave this blank if you're human Was something broken on the page? Was information missing on the page? Was the information incorrect? Should you have any questions about your plumbing system or maintenance, our plumbers will gladly take the time to answer any questions youThere are also numerous articles throughout our site for those who are handy around the house.

Below are some common industry terms you may find helpful. Don't see what you are looking for? Contact us with your question and one of our friendly staff will send you the answer within one business day. ABS or Aristocraft Bristone Styrine - a rigid black plastic pipe used for drain, waste and vent lines. Access Panel - an opening in the wall or ceiling near a fixture that allows for access to service the plumbing or electrical system Angle Stop - a shutoff valve between a water supply pipe and the fixture it supplies. Used to shut off water to a fixture in the event of failure or repair. Anode Rod - a rod inside of a water heater that protects the tank from corrosion; usually made of magnesium or aluminum; most manufacturer warranty lengths vary depending upon the quality of the anode rod of a water heater. Backwater Valve - sewer line valve that prevents sewage from flowing back into the house. Ballcock - the fill valve that controls the flow of water from the supply line into a gravity-operated toilet tank.

It’s controlled by a mechanism that floats in the tank water. When the toilet is flushed, the float drops and opens the ballcock. This releases water into the tank and/or bowl. As the water in the tank is restored, the float rises and shuts off the ballcock when the tank is full. Check Valve - a type of backflow preventer installed on a pipe so that water is allowed to only flow in one direction. City Sewer - sewage disposal system operated by the city or county. Cleanout Plug - a plug in a trap or drain pipe that provides access to the drain line for the purpose of clearing an obstruction.also known as a water closet Closet Auger - a flexible rod with a curved end used to access the toilet's built-in trap and remove clogs. Closet Bend - a curved fitting mounted immediately below the toilet that connects the closet flange to the toilet drain. Diaphragm - flexible membrane in a valve body that regulates water flow from the supply lines and reduces build-up within a valve

Dip Tube - the tube inside a water heater that sends cold water down to the bottom of the tank Drip Leg- a stub-ended pipe installed at the low point on a gas line; collects condensation and debris and allows for its removal; also known as a sediment trap Escutcheon - a decorative metal flange or trim shield beneath a faucet handle that covers the faucet stem and the hole in the fixture or wall Expansion Tank - a device designed to contain excess pressure due to thermal expansion Fall - also known as flow; the proper slope or pitch of a pipe for adequate drainage Fixture - in plumbing, the devices that provide a supply of water and/or its disposal (example: sinks, tubs, toilets etc...) Flapper Valve - the part on the bottom of the toilet tank that opens and allows water to flow from the tank into the bowl the floating ball connected to the ballcock inside the tank that rises or falls with the changing water level in the tank Floor Flange - a fitting that connects a toilet to the sewer line;

also known as a closet flange Flushometer - toilet valve that automatically shuts off after it meters a certain amount of water flow; Flushometers are usually found on commercial grade toilets Gas Cock - gas valve installed on main gas line and on a gas appliance to allow the gas to be shut off when necessary Gas Control - device used to regulate gas pressure on a water heater. Gate Valve - a device that controls the flow of liquid in a pipe. Gravity Operated Toilet - a toilet that relies on the natural downward pressure of water in a toilet tank to flush the toilet effectively; most toilets in American homes are gravity operated Horizontal Branch - lateral drain pipes that run from plumbing fixtures to the waste stack in a building or in the soil Horizontal Run - the horizontal distance between the point where fluid enters a pipe and the point at which it leaves Hose Bib - an outdoor faucet or spigot typically used for watering plants, washing cars etc...

Main Line - the primary line that supplies water from the water company's meter at the street up to the point where it enters the home; all other supply lines in the home branch out from this main line Polybutylene - This is a soft, gray or blue plastic pipe that was widely-used from the mid- 70′s to the mid- 90′s across the nation. Since then it has become known that polybutylene deteriorates over time and leaks. Power Flush System - Toilet flushing system that compresses water to provide a pressurized flush as opposed to a gravity flush. Power assisted toilets are more typically found in business or commercial settings. PRV or Pressure Reducing Valve - a special valve installed on the main water line coming in to the home so that water entering the valve from municipal mains is constricted within the valve body. It reduces water pressure coming in to your home from the high level used by the water company down to a level that can be used in your home without damaging your fixtures.

Saddle Valve - a valve mounted on a pipe run by a clamping device, or fitting that taps into the side of a pipe, used to make quick connection to an existing line to provide a water supply for a low-demand device. Shroud - Color matched component under a wall-mount lavatory that covers the drain outlet for aesthetic purposes Straight Stop Valve - A shutoff valve, like the angle stop but without the 90 degree turn. Supply Line -  a metal or plastic line that carries water from the Main Line to an individual fixture (e.g. faucet, toilet, etc.) in the home. T&P Valve or Temperature and Pressure Valve - temperature & pressure relief valve. A safety device used to expel excess pressure or heat from inside a tank. If the water in the tank gets too hot, some of it is released through the T&P valve. Thermocouple - small electric generator. Electron flow between the hot junction of 1200ºF and cold junction of 600ºF creates millivoltage. Thermostatic Valve - Pressure-balancing shower mixing valve with automatic temperature control.